Chicago is waking up to another gray start on Thursday, April 16, 2026, with light rain already falling across the city. At Midway Airport, temperatures were sitting at about 61°F as of 5:35 a.m. CDT, humidity running high and the air feeling every bit of it. Scattered showers and a few rumbles of thunder are on the table through the afternoon, and a west-southwest breeze will keep the lakefront on the blustery side.

Afternoon Showers And Gusty Winds

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are most likely before 3 p.m. CDT on Thursday, April 16, with forecasters calling for roughly a 40% chance of precipitation and a high near 70°F. By late afternoon, cooler air off the water will drop readings into the upper 50s along the lakefront. West-southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph could gust up to 25 mph in stronger cells, and brief heavy downpours of about a tenth to a quarter of an inch may knock down visibility and slow the afternoon commute.

Flood Watch Along The Des Plaines River

A Flood Watch remains in effect for portions of the Des Plaines River basin through Saturday morning, April 18, 2026. The National Weather Service says river levels are already elevated and warns that low-lying forested areas near Riverside could be inundated. For the latest watches and detailed river information, check the National Weather Service Chicago.

Tonight Into Friday

Patchy fog is likely Thursday night into Friday morning, with lows near 47°F. The thickest fog is expected along the lakefront, so early commuters should be prepared for reduced visibility. On Friday, April 17, 2026, temperatures rebound into the 70s before another strong system moves in late Friday into Friday night. Forecasters highlight a risk of damaging gusts, severe storms, and areawide flash flooding, particularly west of I-39. Keep an eye on updates from the NWS Chicago.

What To Expect And Where We’re Watching

With ground already saturated from the past week, even moderate downpours can trigger rapid runoff in poor-drainage spots. Drivers are urged to avoid plowing through standing water, and anyone in a flood-prone home may want to move basement valuables to higher ground. We broke down the multi-day setup and the earlier rounds of heavy rain in a previous report.